Of the 26 suspects in the Narin Güran murder case, 11 are currently in custody, including the 8-year-old’s uncle, mother, and older brother. Following the discovery of her body last week, questions such as why and by who she was murdered remain unanswered. Narin disappeared after exiting a Quran course in Turkey’s Diyarbakir province on August 21st and was missing for two and a half weeks before her body was discovered on September 9th.
Two relatives of Narin have recently been taken into custody in the investigation, as well as an employee of Narin’s uncle Salin Güran, who is currently one of the chief suspects in the case.
Narin left her house in Diyarbakir’s rural Bağlar district on August 21 at 13:00 to attend a Quran course, which she exited at 15:15. Security camera footage of Narin leaving the course at this time was the last recorded evidence of her before her disappearance.
Discovery of the body
Narin Güran’s body was found in a sack in a nearby stream, some three kilometers from her family home, on the morning of September 8, 19 days after she went missing. According to Diyarbakır Governor Murat Zorluoğlu, Güran’s lifeless body had been hidden in the stream concealed under stones and tree branches. Investigations revealed that Güran’s left leg had been below the knee.
Details of the murder
Following her discovery, an autopsy was carried out at the Diyarbakır Forensic Medicine Institute on Sunday, September 8. The autopsy failed to determine an exact cause of death. 91 body and tissue samples were sent to the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute. The institute is currently preparing a report that will aim to shed light on the possible cause of death.
Efforts to determine the exact cause of death have been made difficult by the state of the body, which had significantly decomposed at the time of discovery.
The initial autopsy noted that no sharp-piercing or firearm wounds had been discovered. Internal bleeding was also ruled out as a cause of death.
First confession in the case
On September 9, the first confession regarding the murder came from Nevzat Bahtiyar, a friend of Narin’s detained uncle Salim Güran. In his statement, Bahtiyar said: “Salim Güran pointed to something wrapped in a blanket and said, ‘I’d like you to get rid of this. Think carefully, because I will give you 200 thousand liras.'”
According to his confession, Bahtiyar then drove to the nearby stream where he deposited a sach, suspected to contain Narin’s lifeless body.
Narin’s uncle, currently a chief suspect in the case, has denied accusations that he killed his niece.
Where was Narin Güran killed?
Although Narin’s uncle Salim Güran has alleged that he was working until 20:00 on the day of the incident, evidence uncovered in the case has cast doubt on this claim.
Additionally, Salim Güran has denied meeting Nevzat Bahtiyar on the day of the incident, as well as confessing to Bahtiyar that he killed his niece.
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No definitive evidence has emerged regarding where Narin Güran was killed.
‘Why’
In addition to the ‘where’ question, the investigation has also failed to determine why Narin Güran might have been killed.
Rumors thus far have suggested that Narin may have witnessed an affair between her uncle and mother, Yüksel Güran, and that her murder may have been an attempt to silence such rumors.
In a recent statement at the prosecutor’s office, Narin’s mother denied rumors of an affair between her and Salim Güran.
Narin’s brother
Nine days after Narin’s disappearance, her 18-year-old brother Enes was detained in connection with two bite marks found on his arm. While one of the bite marks was matched to him, the identity of the second one could not be determined.
The mouth and teeth models taken from mother Yüksel Güran and previously taken from Narin Güran will be sent to the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institution and will be compared with the bite mark on brother Enes Güran’s arm as part of the investigation.
In a statement at the prosecutor’s office, Enes Güran stated that he had bit his own arm due to stress several days after his younger sister’s disappearance.
Narin’s father’s statement
Narin Güran’s father Arif Güran, who was released after being detained, recently stated in a TV interview that he thought Nevzat bahtiyar had killed his daughter in exchange for 80,000 Turkish Lira.
In the statement, Güran also mentioned that he trusted his wife, who has been accused of having an affair with Narin’s uncle.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
